In Light v. Missouri Department of Social Services, (WD MO, Dec. 12, 2024), a Missouri federal district court dismissed a suit challenging the removal of plaintiff's four adult children from the SNAP (food stamp) program because they failed to comply the requirement to register for work and accept suitable employment offers. According to the court:
Plaintiff alleges that participation of her four adult children in the SNAP work program is against their sincerely held beliefs under the Holy Bible New Testament KJV. Specifically, Plaintiff alleges that the work registration and training requirements would cause her children to give up their time to an employer placing them under ownership, and be placed in a position of a servant....
Plaintiff does not cite, and the Court has not found, any indication where the SNAP work and training requirements are not generally applicable.
If a law is neutral and generally applicable courts will apply a rational basis review.... Courts uphold a valid and neutral law of general applicability if it is rationally related to a legitimate governmental purpose even if there is an incidental effect on religious belief.... SNAP was established to raise levels of nutrition among low-income households. To be eligible for the program both households and individuals had to adhere to certain eligibility requirements. This is a rationally related law to a legitimate government purpose of raising levels of nutrition among low-income households....
